WORTHY UPDATEE.

Hey everyone! First and foremost, I apologize for being “incognito” for the past few months. Radiation was a blur! I was so exhausted from traveling back and forth to Jacksonville…EVERY DAY for 5 weeks! [Thanks to COVID19…hotels and VRBOs were unavailable] Thank God for Mom and Dad, they had to rotate driving me. I, thankfully, only required 25 rounds of radiation and tolerated it exceptionally well! My skin held up like a champ…I guess all the years of indoor tanning, prepared my skin for such harsh radiation…LOL! I am kidding! But seriously, the radiation was much easier than I anticipated.

I completed the 25 rounds of radiation on June 1 and returned to work on June 3. I am so blessed that I was able to return to work in the middle of a pandemic. It has been incredible for me to be back doing what I love with the greatest staff in Valdosta…yes I am a little partial to VFM. 😀

As I mentioned in my last post, I am continuing the Kadcyla infusion every three weeks. August 14 was my seventh infusion…half way there!! Since radiation, I have also been accepted into a vaccination research trial at Mayo. The requirements for this study are/were: receiving chemotherapy, having the mastectomies, a clear PET scan, and a normal echocardiogram. Did you see where I mentioned a CLEAR PET SCAN? That is right. Our GOD is amazing. He answered our prayers. He is the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, and Light in the Darkness. I am CANCER FREE!!!

Each vaccination consists of three intradermal injections (six rounds plus 2 booster injections). The goal of this vaccination (+Kadcyla) is to prevent cancer from recurring. The injection alone “boosts” my own immune system against cancer cells. This study is currently researching the effectiveness of preventing recurrence and hopefully breast cancer in general. (So, in a few years when they are advertising a new vaccination that can possibly prevent breast cancer…I was apart of the study!)

I have had a total of two vaccinations. The first vaccine was an absolute breeze. The second left behind a small reaction site…but this is expected and desired. Praise God, my immune system is responding. The best part of this entire vaccine trial is the fact that I was able to assist my friend Abbie Halbig to be accepted into the triple negative vaccine trial. I am so excited we both are able to be apart of research that will one day help others.

As I mentioned above, I had a PET scan recently and it was CLEAR! All praise to God. However, the days leading up to the PET scan, the day of, and the hours after awaiting for my results were all full of so much anxiety. I was nervous about the outcome. I was on edge. I was caught up in the “what-ifs” and I was overwhelmed.

The evening before my PET scan, my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Steve prayed over me and I felt so much relief. Uncle Steve told me to remember Psalm 91. I immediately hung up the phone and began reading Psalm 91. Verse 4 brought about a huge relief as well.

“He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.“ Psalm 91:4

God will always be my protector and I can take refuge in Him. Although I was nervous about my results, I knew that God was/is in control. I was ready to face my fears and walked into that PET scan room with confidence that God was/is in control and I had nothing to worry about.

Anxious. Worried. Stressed.

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

This verse provides us with [3] great takeaways.

1. Do not worry/be anxious/be stressed about ANYTHING!
2. Pray about EVERYTHING.
3. Be thankful for EVERYTHING!

When these words were written, Jesus meant for us to NOT worry about anything. Literally. Not our health, finances, future, past…not ANYTHING. Easy, right? Simply do not worry and live life to the fullest each day…sounds easy, huh?

I, just like a lot of you, need to remind myself of this daily. When we allow one small worry to creep in…more and more anxieties will begin to fill our lives. We need to learn to cut out the worry before we allow it to completely overwhelm us. In order to cut out the worry, we must follow the second takeaway…pray about everything. There is nothing too big or too small for Jesus. If you believe that your problem is too small for Jesus…is it even worth stressing over? Finally, we must be thankful for everything. We have faced giants before. We have been overwhelmed, BUT we have also OVERCAME by the power of Jesus! Jesus is the overcomer, the healer, the miracle-worker, the way-maker, and the LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. Give all of your concerns to Him. Seek Him. Read His word. Pray.

I would like to thank you all for continuing to pray for me and my family. I am so blessed by all of the love and support from each and everyone of you. I began this journey one year ago today. I had my first “peek” at what would later be diagnosed as breast cancer…just one year ago today. God has brought me so far and I am so thankful for this journey. Continue to pray for me as I am still receiving treatments and following up routinely with doctors. I know that the Lord has healed me and He will use my testimony to help others. Love you all!

With Love,

Anna